Ministers Joly, Leblanc to meet Trump aides in Florida over tariff risks

Canada’s new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mélanie Joly, are set to meet with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s aides in Florida on Friday to address the looming threat of new trade tariffs. The Canadian government expressed concerns over Trump’s intentions to impose tariffs on imports from Canada unless the country takes action to reduce the flow of migrants and fentanyl into the U.S.

In a statement released by LeBlanc’s office on Thursday, it was emphasized that the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods would have detrimental effects on both Canada and the United States. The meeting will also focus on Canada’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration, despite the significantly lower volume of these activities at the Canadian border compared to the Mexican border, which Trump has also targeted.

The meeting comes amidst ongoing social media attacks by Trump against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump’s recent references to Trudeau as “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada” and suggestions of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state have strained the relationship between the two leaders.

Trudeau is facing mounting pressure from lawmakers within his party to step down as he navigates the challenges posed by Trump’s trade threats. Following Trudeau’s meeting with Trump in November, LeBlanc and Joly aim to build on those discussions and further engage with Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, to reinforce Canada’s border security measures.

Trump has also raised concerns about the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, incorrectly labeling it as a subsidy. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, clarified that the U.S. had a $75-billion trade deficit with Canada last year, driven in part by energy exports. Despite the trade deficit, Canada remains a crucial trade partner for the U.S., with billions of dollars worth of goods and services crossing the border daily.

The issue of fentanyl at the border has been a focal point for Trump, who has called on Canada to address the flow of the synthetic opioid. However, experts suggest that the fentanyl issue is not as significant at the Canadian border compared to the Mexican border. Similarly, the influx of migrants at the Canadian border is significantly lower than at the southern border with Mexico.

As LeBlanc and Joly engage with Trump’s administration in Florida, the discussions will center on finding common ground on trade, border security, and addressing the challenges posed by illegal migration and drug trafficking. The outcome of the meeting could have far-reaching implications for the economic and diplomatic relations between Canada and the United States.